Members met at the Mt Ommaney Hotel Apartments complex on Friday 3 March.

The National Transport Commission’s consultant Dr Peter Hart provided information on the NTC’s National Heavy Vehicle Braking Strategy.

The project will review strategy and priorities for improving the safety performance and regulation of Australia’s fleet of new and in-service heavy vehicles. Dr Hart’s presentation gave a comprehensive look at future braking options to be considered in the establishment of legislative requirements.

The current regulatory approach to braking is challenged by the introduction of new brake technologies that increase the range of possible permutations and in-service compatibility issues, particularly for combination vehicles.

There is also an identified need to consolidate braking regulations and achieve consistency for new and in-service vehicles, including the regulation of replacement parts.

The key elements of a proposed braking strategy are described as including:

New Performance rules - supporting national minimum standards for stopping distance and directional control; to be developed in the medium term, and to apply to in-service combination vehicles and brake replacement materials, in addition to new vehicles.

Short term safety amendments, to be implemented as important ‘stepping stones’ to the new rule, including:

Members provided direct feedback on the strategy to the NTC. There was considerable discussion on the regulation of replacement parts and on possible methods of calculating brake performance without having to perform expensive vehicle testing.

The CVIAQ will respond to the proposal on behalf of members. Copies of the proposal can be found on the NTC website www.ntc.gov.au

The proposals are to be further developed and refined through public consultation and workshops with industry and road safety regulators, culminating with the NTC’s submission of a Heavy Vehicle Braking Strategy to Australian Transport Council later in 2006.